Earth Day 2009: Are Green Choices Second Nature?

NEWPORT NEWS — As environmentalism hits a chic peak, every day is supposed to be Earth Day. So did Wednesday's official designation mean less?

Sounded like it, judging from a quick spin through City Center at Oyster Point at lunchtime. Josh Krivda and Chris Green, a pair of 18-year-olds, sat on a bench by the fountain munching on lunch. They knew it was Earth Day.

"I heard about it on the radio," Krivda said.

But both agreed that eco-friendly reminders to protect the earth now take place every day. They didn't have anything special planned.

Leanne Krause was unaware of Earth Day before she delivered lunch to some co-workers who were meeting in one of the office buildings. Krause, who works with Newport News Public Schools, was directed to the city's Earth Day exhibit in another room there.

She had a handful of literature, and a couple of cookies, as she browsed. Her plan was to distribute some of the information back at her office.

"We try to," Krause said, when asked if she goes green on a daily basis.

Faye Brown had picked up a couple of reusable shopping bags on her way through. She knew it was Earth Day and is concerned about the environment.

"Now we do more than ever because we're more aware and pay more attention to it," Brown said. "Earth Day's very important."

Down the street, an electronics waste collection scheduled for Monday and Tuesday had been extended a day to run through Earth Day. Old computers and printers were piled up in a vacant building.

Elizabeth Speigle, who works with the city's library department, passed by. She was aware of Earth Day, and sees a dropoff in the annual celebration as it melds more into daily life

"We certainly have been much more green-influenced the last couple of years, but it doesn't seem like it's as much (Earth Day activity)," Speigle said. "I haven't done anything special because I already live my life the way I think it should be."

WHAT IS EARTH DAY?

Earth Day takes place annually and is always on April 22. It marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. Gaylord Nelson, at that time a U.S. senator from Wisconsin, proposed the first nationwide environmental protests, which were held on April 22, 1970.